Hyderabad: The Cyber Security Bureau on Thursday launched the SHIELD 2.0 conference at the Command Control Center in Hyderabad, with a clear focus on strengthening cyber crime prevention and control across Telangana.
As part of the inaugural session, Chief Secretary K. Ramakrishna Rao and Director General of Police B. Shivadhar Reddy attended as chief guests. The organisers conducted the conference under the theme “Protection for victims, security for a digital future.” During the event, the Chief Secretary and the DGP also released the Cyber Sarathi poster.
Moreover, officials said the conference aimed to promote innovation in the cyber domain. Accordingly, they screened a special video highlighting SHIELD 2025 achievements and outlining goals for 2026. In addition, organisers announced a special discussion on AI-based policing with IPS officers from Tamil Nadu and Punjab.
SHIELD 2.0 conference highlights cyber crime response and child protection
Meanwhile, senior officials from central and state governments, law enforcement agencies, industry leaders, academicians, and cyber security experts from across the country attended the conference.
Police officials said the SHIELD 2025 initiative led to the launch of the Child Protection Unit (CPU) by Chief Minister Revanth Reddy. As a result, authorities achieved significant progress in tackling online child sexual abuse material (CSAM). Earlier, agencies registered 37 cases and made 36 arrests based on about 50,400 tip-offs. However, after the CPU’s formation, officials processed over 1,20,563 tip-offs, registered 866 cases, and arrested 421 persons.
Addressing the gathering, Ramakrishna Rao said cyber threats affecting governance, public services, and critical infrastructure required strong policy coordination. Therefore, he stressed administrative readiness and inter-departmental coordination. Similarly, DGP Shivadhar Reddy highlighted challenges faced by law enforcement due to changing crime patterns and rising cyber crime cases. Consequently, he underlined the need for advanced investigation tools, specialised training, and coordinated response systems across the state.